(Photo Credit: NFL.com)
As good as the Divisional Round was, Championship weekend didn’t disappoint either. The 49ers beat the Falcons, and the Ravens upset the Patriots to set up the much anticipated “Harbaugh Bowl” for Super Bowl 47. There won’t be any shortage of storylines heading into this year’s big game down in New Orleans.
Even though I thought it would be a 49ers-Patriots Super Bowl, I can’t really say I’m surprised at the Ravens in there instead. Ever since the start of the playoffs, it seems as if the Ravens have exploded into elite status in every phase of the game. Especially on offense, the Ravens have scored at least 24 points a game, and that probably has a lot to do with Joe Flacco’s stellar play in the 3 postseason games thus far. In the three games, Joe Flacco has thrown 8 touchdowns, no interceptions, and 853 yards. Even though his completion percentage hasn’t eclipsed 58% in any of the games, his QBR has been 106.3 or higher. His airing it out in these playoffs has really scrapped the mantra that this Ravens offense goes as Ray Rice goes. Yes, the Ray Rice run game opens up the secondary for Flacco to have his way, but this offense has really been on fire behind Flacco’s arm.
Despite a banged up and older defense, this team just continues to defy all odds and continues to win, despite my picking against them every week of this year’s playoffs. I picked the Colts, Broncos, and Patriots, and the Ravens have made me look like a fool every single week. I’ll have to really think long and hard about picking against the Ravens if I am to do so. Especially since I was pretty dang sure that they wouldn’t get past the Patriots. Joe Flacco threw for another 3 TD’s, and the elderly defense that I continue to rag on, held the Tom Brady led offense to 13 points. 13 stinking points. I had predicted the Patriots to win 41-34, and the Patriots offense only put 1/3 that many points. The Ravens put together 3 drives of at least 10 plays or more that amassed at least 60 yards. All of which ended in touchdowns. This Ravens offense kept their older defense fresh and off the field more often than not. That gave that defense the chance to keep the Patriots out of wack, and the inability to execute like they have all season. I don’t know if it’s because the Ravens get into the Patriots heads, or if the Ravens just have that key to beating the Patriots that not many other teams have, but the Ravens did something that not many others do, and that is knock the Patriots out of the playoffs. The Patriots led 13-7 at halftime, and Tom Brady was 66-0 at home when the Patriots have a lead at halftime. Make that 66-1.
As for the NFC title game, the 49ers took the Falcons Super Bowl appearance right from under their noses. Colin Kaepernick didn’t have an insane game on the ground like he did in the divisional round, but just as I predicted, the threat of the read-option opened up the pass for the 49ers offense, and they took advantage. Kaepernick completed only 16 passes, but had 221 yards in the air. The story that those numbers tell are that Kaepernick had time to throw because of the linebacking corps waiting to see if he would run out of the pocket, but he instead threw it down-field to what were more often than not, wide-open receivers.
The 49ers relied a lot less on the legs of their rookie quarterback, and instead burned the Falcons through the air, something I’m not quite sure they were expecting. The gameplan on offense was perfect. Simple really, but exactly what was necessary to come away with a win. Don’t you think that the defense of the Falcons was watching tape all week long and witnessing how much of a threat Kaepernick was on the ground? After that 181 yard performance in the divisional round, heck even I would’ve thought the 49ers would try to repeat that kind of performance, but instead came into the game playing it very smart.
The threat was there. If the 49ers wanted to get Kaepernick going on the ground, they probably could have done so successfully. But airing it out all game long instead seemed to throw that Falcons defense off guard. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said that this zone read-option offense in the NFL should eventually fade away away just like the wildcat style did after a while. But until defenses learn how to stop it, it’s got to be considered the most dangerous type of offense around right now. We’ve seen this zone-read option offense in the Redskins, Seahawks, and the 49ers. In the order of those three teams being ousted in this year’s playoffs, with the 49ers still remaining, we’ve seen the levels of success that these types of offenses have been experiencing. The 49ers look to be the varsity version, and they’re not going away.
The level that the 49ers have been executing at is scary to think about, and it will make them near impossible to beat. Especially right now when most teams have no clue how to stop it. The Falcons were the latest victim of the read-option and like many other teams faced with the task of trying to stop it, they were also unable to do so. Despite a good effort from the Falcons on both sides of the ball, it just wasn’t enough. Offensively, Matt Ryan had a monster day, throwing for nearly 400 yards and 3 touchdowns. But defensively, there’s only so much the Falcons could do. The Falcons did lead this game 17-0 at one point, but it’s only a matter of time until the read-option starts to work out the kinks and begins to put points on the board. The Falcons offense put up a quick 17 points, but then were outscored 28-7 during the rest of the game. Matt Ryan and his weapons in Roddy White, Julio Jones, and future hall-of-famer Tony Gonzalez, as good as they may be, just weren’t enough.
I can only put so much emphasis on how crazy effective this 49ers offense can really be, and having a very smart coach in Jim Harbaugh to run the scheme doesn’t hurt either. Now the 49ers will face another traditional offense in the Ravens, and it will be Harbaugh v. Harbaugh in Super Bowl 47, which I’m sure will soon be trending on Twitter as the “Super BAUGH.” Will the 49ers be able to do what no one has seem to be able to do in these playoffs, and that’s to keep the Ravens from burning your defense deep down the field during the game so your offense has a chance to keep it’s rhythm. What hasn’t been of much mention in these playoffs in talks about the 49ers, is their what is considered by many, their stellar defense. That’s why this 49ers team is so scary. Their read-option offense adopted of late behind Kaepernick, along with that big bad 49ers defense, makes them very hard to pick against. It will definitely be one hell of a game though. There is definitely no shortage of storylines. The Harbaugh brothers facing off for bragging rights. Ray Lewis’ last game in the NFL. Rookie Colin Kaepernick starting in only his 10th game in the league. Joe Flacco fighting for elite status. There’s two more weeks for the excitement to build. It’s going to get crazy.
Anthony Rodriguez
Anthony is the Founder, Administrator, Editor and Publisher of Lightning Rod Sports. Originally from California, Anthony has been raised in the Rocky Mountains and Denver area for most of his life. Anthony works with the Emmy-winning student-run T.V. newscast at MSU Denver, The Met Report, as the Assistant General Manager, formerly the Sports Producer, as well as Lead Anchor and Production Assistant. He is currently the Play-by-Play Announcer, Color Commentator, and Production Assistant for the Metro State Broadcast Network, and calls games for Metro State soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball as a “Voice of the Roadrunners.” In addition to that work with the Metro State Broadcast Network, Anthony also hosts the monthly 30-minute magazine show called "The Roadrunner Review" which airs on Altitude Sports and Entertainment. He hosts the bi-weekly "KMet Sports Show" on KMET Radio at MyMetMedia.com/KMETSportsShow. He is also the Founder, Administrator, Editor, and Columnist for his own Denver Sports website, LightningRodSports.com. Anthony is also part of the Social Media team at Examiner.com, and has worked with the Altitude Radio Network for the Avalanche and Nuggets. Anthony is a former Producer for Mile High Sports Radio, as well as a former Sports-Talk show host on the LightningRod Radio Network.
